'I love Liverpool but this is a massive opportunity for us'

Academy graduate Conor Coady will return to Merseyside on Saturday for an emotional reunion with the club he represented between the ages of six and 20. 

Despite only going on to make two senior appearances for LFC, the Scouser was a favourite among regular visitors to the club’s Kirkby youth base.

The commitment and never-say-die attitude he showed back then has certainly endeared him to Wolves supporters since he made the switch to the Black Country in the summer of 2015. 

And now he is hoping to show his qualities once more when he faces his boyhood team in a fixture he can't wait for.

“I’m a huge Liverpool fan, I still go to as many games as I possibly can and, for me and my family, this is something I have always wanted,” Coady told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I grew up at Liverpool. I was at the Academy from the age of six and I left when I was 20. It was a club that gave me everything.

“It was a massive learning curve for me, they taught me everything I know in football. And they helped me move on to come to a club like Wolves, who are a huge football club as well.

“I knew when my time was up at Liverpool and it was time to move on, but every single second I had there I loved it.

“If the gaffer picks me, I know it’s about playing the game and not the occasion.

“It will be a massive day, not just for me but for all of my family, who are all massive Liverpool fans, and they will be very proud on the day.

“I’m loving watching how Liverpool have played this season and I think Jürgen Klopp is doing a fantastic job and bringing the young players through. That is what you want to see as a Liverpool fan.”

The visiting supporters' hopes of a cup upset may have been somewhat strengthened by Liverpool's mixed recent form. 

But Coady insists he and his teammates are fully aware of the dangers of underestimating a group of players he considers 'world-class'. 

“It’s always going to be a tough time to play against Liverpool, no matter what recent results they have had," he continued.

“They have got some world-class players in their team and it is going to be tough to stop them but we will go there and look to play our normal game.

“This is a massive opportunity for everyone.

“It’s a good chance for us to test ourselves against the best. Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe and it’s one the boys are looking forward to, and I know our fans are certainly looking forward to it.

“It’s about us going there and giving them something to cheer about and make it a good day for everybody all round.”

Wolves have already claimed one Premier League scalp in the FA Cup this term, having produced a superb display to beat Stoke City 2-0 away in the third round.

Coady watched on from the bench throughout that win in the Potteries and says the victory was a fully deserved one.

“The boys were outstanding,” he said.

“Stoke put virtually their strongest team out and our boys went out and did a superb job.

“The gaffer made a few changes on the day and the lads that came in were fantastic. They passed the ball, pressed, harried and beat Stoke in every aspect really. We deserved the win and scored two fantastic goals.”

Under Paul Lambert’s management, Coady, normally a central midfield player, has found himself appearing at right-back.

But he reveals he has taken inspiration from watching James Milner make a similar transition for the Reds this term.

“I’m the type of player who will give my all wherever I am playing and try and be the best I can in whatever position I’m asked to play,” he added.

“The gaffer asked me to play right-back for him and I’m really enjoying it and hopefully that will continue and I keep on playing.

“It’s something you’ve just to take in your stride [playing in a new position]. As a professional footballer you’ve got to do a job for the team and for the club. Milner does it fantastically well.”

The 23-year-old also commented on last week's announcement that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard will be returning to the club to take up a coaching role at the Academy.

Coady admitted to feeling a degree of envy that the next generation of Reds hopefuls will have an iconic figure guiding their development.

“It’s huge Stevie is back,” he said.

“I speak to quite a lot of the staff at the Academy and I’m always in contact with them. I was speaking to Alex Inglethorpe the other day and it’s just massive for everyone to have him back and in general to have a person of that stature back at the football club.

“I can only imagine being one of those young boys at the Academy now and how good it must be and how good it must feel to have Steven coaching them every day. It’s a massive help to everybody.”